COUNCIL leaders in South Oxfordshire have ruled out spending up to £6m to build the Harwell link road and help create 8,400 jobs in a new Enterprise Zone.

Earlier this year, Science Vale UK, including Harwell Oxford and Milton Park, became one of 10 new Enterprise Zones to be created by the Government following a successful bid from Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The LEP is about to decide how £6m should be spent after the funding was allocated by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

Science Vale UK looks set to get the cash from the LEP, but transport planners have ruled out putting the money towards starting work on the Harwell link road.

Vale and South strategic director Anna Robinson said the money had to be spent by 2016, and this deadline would not allow enough time to launch a major road scheme like the link road between the A4130 and the A4185, which could cost up to £26m.

But Didcot Town Council leader Margaret Davies said investing in the route should be a priority.

She added: “There is a desperate need to use this money for the route between the A4130 near Didcot and the Harwell site.

“Without large-scale funding such as this, employment and housing at Didcot will continue to be separated by the A34 or inadequate village routes.”

There was disappointment in November last year when a county council report indicated that government transport funding for the link road would not be approved.

Mrs Davies warned at the time that without the link road there would be more congestion in Harwell village, more traffic at the Milton interchange on the A34, and rat-running through the Hagbournes.

West Hagbourne parish councillor Michael Butler said: “The £6m should be spent to start building the Harwell link road.

“With more jobs being created on the science and business parks the link road is crucial. Ever-increasing amounts of traffic are coming through our village.”

Mrs Robinson said Harwell Oxford and Milton Park “smaller infrastructure projects” that were at an advanced stage of planning, including access roads and improved broadband connections.

Milton Park managing director James Dipple, who is on the LEP executive board, said: “I hope a strong case can be made for getting this funding for the new Enterprise Zone.”

Mr Dipple earlier estimated that there could be a £9m-a-year boost to the economy if about 8,000 jobs are created by 2016.

LEP chairman Martin Dare-Edwards said earlier this month that it was “highly likely” the money would be used to help the growth of Science Vale UK.

The LEP has an executive board including representatives from South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxford City Council, the county council and business leaders.